Hot springs and hillside golf in the forests of Nasu

Uguisu no Mori Golf Club & Hotel Bato, known until 2010 as Centleisure Golf Club Bato, lies in the quiet countryside of Nakagawa town in eastern Tochigi Prefecture. Opened in May 1989 to a design by Carl Litton, this 18-hole, par-72 course measures about 6,715 yards from the back tees and unfolds across gentle hills. Ponds, well-placed bunkers and stands of trees give it a strategic edge, yet it plays fairly for everyone from beginners to low handicappers. Play is self-play with GPS-equipped riding carts.

Play a round, then soak it away in a spring-fed outdoor bath.

The real appeal here is the stay-and-play package: the on-site Hotel Kanayama no Yu has 73 rooms and a natural hot-spring bath, fed continuously from its source, with an outdoor tub for unwinding after your round. Spring greenery and autumn colour make those the most scenic seasons to visit. The surrounding Nasu area is a rural escape known for the clear Naka River, famous for its sweetfish (ayu), while the Nasu highlands resort area and Nikko's shrines are within a scenic drive. It is a comfortable base for a two-day golf and onsen break from Tokyo, best reached by car via the Tohoku Expressway.